Device for the transfer of fitting parts for container labelling

Abstract

A device for transferring fitting parts for container labelling includes a hub coupled centrally and directly to a direct drive so as to be rotationally driven by the direct drive around a rotational axis in a stationary hub bearing arrangement disposed in an outer circumferential region of the hub. A plurality of drive shafts are rotatably mounted near an outside circumference of the hub. Each drive shaft is parallel to the rotational axis and coupled to a respective transfer shaft carrying a transfer element. A lantern wheel is disposed underneath the hub. The lantern wheel includes drive pinions and toothed wheel segments disposed on the drive shafts and a stationary control cam plate for pivotally rotating the drive shafts with rotation of the hub. The direct drive is disposed underneath the control cam plate.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for transferring fitting parts for container labelling, the device comprising:
 a hub coupled centrally and directly to a direct drive so as to be rotationally driven by the direct drive around a rotational axis in a stationary hub bearing arrangement disposed in an outer circumferential region of the hub; 
 a plurality of drive shafts rotatably mounted near an outside circumference of the hub, each drive shaft being parallel to the rotational axis and coupled to a respective transfer shaft carrying a transfer element; and 
 a lantern wheel disposed underneath the hub, the lantern wheel including drive pinions and toothed wheel segments disposed on the drive shafts and a stationary control cam plate for pivotally rotating the drive shafts with rotation of the hub, 
 wherein the direct drive is disposed underneath the control cam plate, and 
 wherein the direct drive is an electric torque motor or an electric servomotor, the torque motor having a stator and an interior rotor, the stator containing coils and being mounted on a bottom side of the control cam plate or of a plate-like support structure of the device, and the interior rotor being equipped with magnets and being directly mounted on the central shaft of the hub. 
 
     
     
       2. The device recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hub bearing arrangement and the hub are arranged in a through hole of the plate-like support structure of the device, the lantern wheel is arranged underneath the support structure, the direct drive is mounted on the control cam plate, and a drive train that directly connects the direct drive to the hub centrally penetrates the lantern wheel with a central shaft. 
     
     
       3. The device recited in  claim 2 , further comprising an attachment area for at least one of a gripper cylinder, a glue unit or a fitting part magazine of a labelling assembly that can be set up modularly on the support structure, the attachment area being disposed in a predetermined geometric relationship to the hub. 
     
     
       4. The device recited in  claim 1 , wherein each drive shaft in the hub includes a rotating joint part of the rotating joint that is provided for the coupling with the respective transfer shaft, each rotating joint part lying freely on the upper side of the hub, an individual switch-off with an overload clutch is provided and the overload clutch has spring-preloaded detent balls and detent ball recesses between the drive pinion and the drive shaft. 
     
     
       5. The device recited in  claim 4 , wherein a twist-lock pneumatic cylinder of the individual switch-off is arranged in the hub with every drive shaft and between two axially spaced roller bearings that form a rotatable support of the drive shaft. 
     
     
       6. The device recited in  claim 1 , wherein the rotating joint is a self-centering front sprocket coupling without play that is detachable and engaged by a relative tipping movement of the transfer shaft crosswise to the axis of the pivotal mounting, and wherein the rotating joint has Hirth-toothings in front sprockets that are engagable in only a single relative mutual rotational position. 
     
     
       7. The device recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a cover on an upper side of the hub that is penetrated by the drive shafts and that covers an edge of the through opening and that is sealed with respect to the support structure by a labyrinth seal on a circumferential side. 
     
     
       8. The device recited in  claim 1 , wherein each drive shaft that projects beyond an upper side of the hub or a cover arranged on the hub is sealed with respect to the cover by means of a labyrinth seal. 
     
     
       9. The device recited in  claim 8 , wherein each labyrinth seal is arranged between the rotating joint part of the drive shaft and a sealing ring mounted in the cover. 
     
     
       10. The device recited in  claim 1 , wherein the control cam plate is mounted on a bottom side of the support structure via a spacer ring that seals the lantern wheel with respect to the outside. 
     
     
       11. The device recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hub bearing arrangement has a single bearing-ring-free four-point torque mounting element with roller bodies that is mounted directly between bearing seats of the hub and in the through hole of the support structure. 
     
     
       12. The device recited in  claim 11 , wherein adjacent to the bearing seat, a stationary clamping ring that loads the four-point torque mounting element with a spring preload is mounted in a seat in the through hole of the support structure. 
     
     
       13. The device recited in  claim 12 , wherein the clamping ring has a seat for the labyrinth seal on a circumferential side. 
     
     
       14. The device recited in  claim 12 , wherein the clamping ring has a seat for the labyrinth seal on a circumferential side.